by Jim Saunders, The News Service of Florida Most shoppers in the dairy aisle probably never give it a lot of thought. But a battle over the labeling of skim milk led Monday to a federal appeals court siding with a small Calhoun County creamery in a First Amendment fight with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Building a Reliable, Low-Cost Device to Measure Moisture in Grain Bags
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists have developed a new way for farmers in developing areas of the world to determine the moisture content of their stored grain. Such determinations can help prevent losses due to insects, spoilage and mold growth that can render grain unfit for consumption. Unlike in the West, farmers in underdeveloped countries use large bags rather …
Urban High Tunnel Initiative Announced in Alabama
A new initiative focused on addressing urban conservation in Alabama’s urban areas has been announced. It’s called the Urban High Tunnel Initiative, a collaborative effort between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives.
Supreme Court to get More Input in ‘Water War’
From: The News Service of Florida Florida’s “water war” with Georgia is not over. The U.S. Supreme Court said Monday that more legal briefs will be filed in the case, including allowing Florida to contest a special master’s report that recommended a ruling in Georgia’s favor.
ICYMI: Senator Negron’s Visit to the Glades Met With Disappointment, Anger from Residents Threatened by Senate Bill 10
On Friday, Senate President Joe Negron visited Pahokee High School to meet with Glades residents and answer questions about the negative impact Senate Bill 10 would have on the Glades communities, including Pahokee, which is located in Senator Negron’s own district. According to Senate Bill 10’s staff analysis, the bill has a “negative fiscal impact… due to the reduction in …
Agriculture Groups Meet with White House on Trade
Leadership from 11 major agriculture groups met with the White House last week to discuss trade issues. The meeting followed a series of written communications to the Trump administration from the groups under the banner of the U.S. Food and Agriculture Dialogue for Trade, organized by the Corn Refiners Association.
Senate Ag Committee Holding Perdue Nomination Hearing This Week
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on the nomination of Sonny Perdue as Agriculture Secretary. The hearing Thursday, March 23rd, marks the next step in confirming Perdue to the President’s Cabinet.
Despite Rising Demand, U.S. Doesn’t Do Enough to Support Organic Transition
by Colin O’Neil, Agriculture Policy Director, Environmental Working Group More and more Americans want to avoid toxic pesticides on the foods they are buying and feeding their families. But the U.S. invests too little in growing more organic food. As demand for organic food continues to rise, American food companies and retailers are forced to rely on imports. We think …
Letter Urges White House to Maintain Point of Obligation Under RFS
Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Amy Klobuchar led 23 senators in a bipartisan letter urging President Trump to maintain the point of obligation under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and deny proposed changes that would derail the current, successful program. The point of obligation designates who in the fuel supply chain is responsible for blending biofuels, and is a mechanism …
Grains Council Talks Trade Policy with Customers in Mexico
U.S. Grains Council (USGC) leaders traveled to Mexico this week to hear customer concerns about the state of trade relations between the two countries and offer reassurances about U.S. grains producers’ dedication to their market. Chairman Chip Councell, a farmer from the Eastern Shore of Maryland, and President and CEO Tom Sleight traveled to Mexico City, Guadalajara and Merida, accompanied …